We all connect with people in different ways and through our different experiences. When you live with someone on the autism spectrum, you sometimes have to think out of the box for ways to connect with them in a meaningful way. This is something that I previously struggled with in our family.

For our son, I really had to expose him to many things to find out where his interests lie. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. I found out that we both had a lot in common. When he first started high school, he had recently discovered an interest in photography. He had taken some on-line classes during Covid and had won a professional camera. At first when I was trying to help him figure things out, I was just doing it for him. The more he progressed with a few courses at school, the more I became interested in this as well. Every time we figured out something new, I got excited and wanted to learn more about it with him. I remember one of his classes, it was the middle of winter and we had to go outside so that he could shoot photos at a certain speed. We brought the tripod and trudged through the snow to a main street and set up all the equipment and set the camera to the proper speed. It was a lot of fun and an experience that I will never forget.

What I discovered was a shared passion. Sometimes, we don’t have a lot of time to spend taking pictures, but when we do I not only look forward to spending time together but developing a strong connection. The other day we went for a drive and just stopped and took random pictures. It was such a great way to connect with each other. We are trying to turn this passion into a small business for him so this summer we are taking the time to create beautiful products like hats, t-shirts, prints etc so that he can continue to explore this passion and work towards developing more self-confidence and his future.

I feel so honoured to be by his side, not only helping him, but enjoying the process of everything he is doing. I believe that God has blessed us with this opportunity of working together.

As for my daughter, we also connect artistically. She has taught me how to do some jewellery making and I sit with her sometimes and am just in awe of her talent. She is so creative and makes her own jewellery, designs for just about anything and she can make her own patterns and sew clothing. Although we don’t connect as much due to our schedules, we still have a shared passion for creativity and I appreciate her talents so very much. I try to spend time with her whenever I can. I love the way her mind works.

God has blessed us with our children and the differences that the world perceives can actually be a blessing in disguise.

Psalms 112:2 says, “Their children will be successful everywhere: an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.”

I am grateful to God for both of my children and I will continue to help them develop into the people that God has intended them to be.

Shelly Wedge
Exceptional Family Ministry Coordinator
Amberlea Church